Getting into clinical psych...

[foremma]

---

Members do not see this ad.

Hey everyone, I am very interested in becoming a clinical psychologist. I graduate from undergrad this spring, and have taken the GRE's. I am taking a year off and want to work in a research lab, and have a few questions. Thank you in advance 🙂

1: Is it too early to start e-mailing professors to see if they will have full-length, year positions starting in June or September of 2013? Furthermore, can I contact multiple professors at a university? I have no gauge of how hard it is to get a full year position and I don't want to put all my eggs in one basket.

2. I work in a social psych lab but want to move into clinical psych. Will I have a hard time getting into a lab? I am still learning how to write a POI, and don't know how I should incorporate my social psych experience into a transition for my interest in a clinical program.

3. When I e-mail professors to see if they are hiring, am I supposed to send a simple e-mail saying "I'm interested in joining your lab for this time, will you be hiring" or am I supposed to send a brief paragraph indicating interest, past experience, and my CV?

4. Should I include relevant coursework on my CV?

 

[AcronymAllergy]

I'll see if I can't at least briefly answer some of your questions, and I'm sure other posters will fill in what I've forgotten...

Hey everyone, I am very interested in becoming a clinical psychologist. I graduate from undergrad this spring, and have taken the GRE's. I am taking a year off and want to work in a research lab, and have a few questions. Thank you in advance 🙂

1: Is it too early to start e-mailing professors to see if they will have full-length, year positions starting in June or September of 2013?

In the vast majority of cases, yes, it's going to be too early to start emailing about openings for 2013, as many professors may just now be finding out about the availability of funding streams for the 2012 application cycle. Way to be ahead of the game, though.

2. I work in a social psych lab but want to move into clinical psych. Will I have a hard time getting into a lab? I am still learning how to write a POI, and don't know how I should incorporate my social psych experience into a transition for my interest in a clinical program.

I didn't work full-time as an RA myself, so I can't speak from direct experience, but I can say that when I was looking umpteen years ago, funded RA positions were few and far-between (i.e., hard to get). Your best bet will probably be to, in addition to looking for paying gigs, inquire about volunteer work in clinical labs at local universities and teaching hospitals. Heck, private practices may even have some research you could help with. I don't know that you'll need to justify your transition from social to clinical so much as you'll just need to sell the supervisor on your ability to be responsible and professional.

3. When I e-mail professors to see if they are hiring, am I supposed to send a simple e-mail saying "I'm interested in joining your lab for this time, will you be hiring" or am I supposed to send a brief paragraph indicating interest, past experience, and my CV?

Personally, I would keep the initial email very brief (i.e., 2-3 sentences), and yes, I would attach a CV just in case.

4. Should I include relevant coursework on my CV?

If the course work could indicate familiarity with statistical software, then a line or two devoted to coursework might be warranted. Then again, you could just include that same information in a "skills"-type section as well.

 

[foremma]

Thank you for the quick and informative reply. Regarding the CV, is it now time to cut off all my high school activities (such as volunteering with disabled children) or does that still hold merit? I'm assuming I can cut my experience as a waiter and my internship at a radio station, as that is unrelated as well? When would you recommend reaching out to hear about opportunities?

 

[Doctor Eliza]

A good way to get such gigs is through connections and networking. I would talk with your current professors at your university about opportunities they might be aware of or people they might be willing to put you in touch with.

I have also known two people to volunteer in a lab during their senior year and then move into a paid position the following year.

Best,
Dr. E

 

[psypsypsy]

1: Is it too early to start e-mailing professors to see if they will have full-length, year positions starting in June or September of 2013? Furthermore, can I contact multiple professors at a university? I have no gauge of how hard it is to get a full year position and I don't want to put all my eggs in one basket.

2. I work in a social psych lab but want to move into clinical psych. Will I have a hard time getting into a lab? I am still learning how to write a POI, and don't know how I should incorporate my social psych experience into a transition for my interest in a clinical program.

3. When I e-mail professors to see if they are hiring, am I supposed to send a simple e-mail saying "I'm interested in joining your lab for this time, will you be hiring" or am I supposed to send a brief paragraph indicating interest, past experience, and my CV?

4. Should I include relevant coursework on my CV?

When I was looking for these (about 10 years ago), the cycle for paid RAs probably started in March or April for jobs starting that summer or fall. Basically, it was once the current RAs found out if they got into grad school and were leaving. And then there seem to be positions through the summer. Of course, random jobs will pop up when funding comes in, but those people are probably looking more immediate openings. From my experience mentoring undergrads, I think the cycle is still basically the same. I know it can be hard to wait, when people are actively interviewing for jobs in business fields right now, for example, but it's definitely too early.

However, it's never too early to start networking and creating lists of who might be available. Look at universities, medical schools, hospitals around where you are and see who is doing research who might possibly have a spot. And it's definitely fine to email more than one person at a university! If you're in the same city, certainly use your current professors, or grad students in your lab, to find out what opportunities might be coming available.

Also, don't worry too much about a social psych background. If you have experience doing psychology research, that's good and that's what they're looking for. At that level, the "perfect match" doesn't matter as much as having experience with methodology, SPSS or participants. Relate how what you've done is related to what you want to do and how that job will help.

 

[phillips101]

Hey everyone, I am very interested in becoming a clinical psychologist. I graduate from undergrad this spring, and have taken the GRE's. I am taking a year off and want to work in a research lab, and have a few questions. Thank you in advance 🙂

1: Is it too early to start e-mailing professors to see if they will have full-length, year positions starting in June or September of 2013? Furthermore, can I contact multiple professors at a university? I have no gauge of how hard it is to get a full year position and I don't want to put all my eggs in one basket.

2. I work in a social psych lab but want to move into clinical psych. Will I have a hard time getting into a lab? I am still learning how to write a POI, and don't know how I should incorporate my social psych experience into a transition for my interest in a clinical program.

3. When I e-mail professors to see if they are hiring, am I supposed to send a simple e-mail saying "I'm interested in joining your lab for this time, will you be hiring" or am I supposed to send a brief paragraph indicating interest, past experience, and my CV?

4. Should I include relevant coursework on my CV?

1) From what i understand, you're asking about contacting professors for a JOB, not for grad school. If I'm correct, then yes, it is way too early to ask about June/September 2013. Usually, whether they take RAs depend on 1) if they get a grant or not 2) whether the current RA is leaving. None of these things will be known 1 year in advance, and they may not even be hiring you even if you do contact them now, so they'll most likely send back a polite email saying they don't know yet, inquire at a later time.

2) I think you will have a hard time in general finding a paid full-time RA position in a clinical psych lab...period. This is primarily because of the economy, not anything wrong with you. However, if you are looking for unpaid experience, or have connections, then any research experience is good research experience (remember, you're doing work for them for free...).

3) Contrary to what someone just mentioned, I wouldn't just limit your initial email to 2-3 sentences. I am currently the RA at a big lab, and my PI always seems to get especially interested and impressed by students who send a personal email explaining his/her situation. We get so many "I am interested in your research, please let me know if you are looking to hire/volunteers" that it simply comes off as 1) cocky 2) the person didn't put effort into it 3) it was a mass email, and the person knows nothing about the PI and (but not limited to these 4 things) 4) the person is desperate and trying to get whatever he/she can get. In your email, I would suggest you write an honest 1-2 small paragraph about why you are looking for such a position (saying you want to go to grad school is a very good reason) and a little info about yourself. Say you are happy to provide a CV and references if requested. If you are willing to volunteer, don't just ask about hiring, because it may turn them off and make it seem like you're JUST looking to get paid.

4) Yes, that is what a CV is for...include anything you think may be related. In my initial email, I included extracurriculars, "skills" (though looking back, they were very elementary), languages i speak, programs I know (i.e. Java), research experience, clinical experience, relevant coursework, awards/honors. You never know which one of these things may catch the PI's eyes. You may not think your knowledge of a certain program (say Python programming) is relevant to a clinical psych lab, but the PI may happen to be looking for a programmer!

Since you have another semester until you really need to find a job, I would highly suggest you start volunteering right now. Find a lab you are interested in, and get into it. If you're lucky, that lab may be hiring when you graduate, or at the very least, you'll have a lot of experience. As a post-bac RA, with many undergraduate students looking for jobs in my lab, what i tell them is that applying for a job is not the same as applying to grad school...jobs want you to be able to DO THE WORK, they don't care so much about your grades or how you were on the Dean's List, they want you to be able to pick up the material and start chugging away.

As far as your high school activities, I would include it if it is relevant. For example, you may have worked with a certain population in HS that the PI is working on. You may have done some research in HS, or whatever. I wouldn't, however, include things like your SAT or ACT scores, or how you were student of the month. I don't know how my PI sees it, but for me personally (I interview all incoming undergrads), anything of that nature in HS is seen as unnecessary padding.

Also, if you did very well on your GRE's (say something like 90th percentile or above), include them in your CV. Having a good GRE score and also mentioning you want to go to grad school is a good indication you're a hard worker and willing to go above and beyond just your every day job.

Okay, I know this is a really long reply...but just another word of advice. Make sure you adress everyone according to their respective titles. Do NOT assume someone is male or female, do NOT adress PhD's as Mr./Mrs/Ms. Do not assume that no one other than the PI have any power in whether you will be hired. Impress everyone, and respect everyone equally. I've had many people send me ("just" an RA) emails that look like text messages (i.e. uncapitalized I's, abbreviations, etc) simply because they didn't feel the need to impress anyone else other than the big boss. Don't spell someone's name wrong. Don't have a typo in your subject line.
Any of the above things are minor mistakes, but they can be a reason why your application gets thrown out right away.

 

[PsychPhDone]

I had only social psych research in undergrad and was well situated in finding full-time, funded RA work after undergrad. Most positions I looked at required 2 years of commitment, though. I wouldn't start looking any sooner than late Feb or March, though. Emphasize the skills you have (IRB, data analysis, writing, etc.) and work towards getting some posters if you can. I agree with the others about networking, as well.

I did apply for RA jobs at a different time than you (i.e., 5 years ago), but I easily found many to apply for at the time. Maybe it was my geographic region or my flexibility, but when push came to shove, I had options. Good luck!

 

[Pragma]

Regarding #4, I think for this type of position that it is definitely appropriate to include coursework. As for some of the other activities that are farther in the past (e.g., high school), You are at a stage where it is probably still okay to mention them on your CV. But I think it would be a good idea to have very little emphasis/space devoted to those things. Focus more on the recent past.

 

[adhdresearch]

for #3, you really should write more than just a brief 2-3 sentences. make up a draft email that briefly introduces yourself (where you graduated from, what degree you have, your GPA), has a couple of sentences about past relevant experience, and then closes with a sentence or 2 about how your past research experience or interest will make you a good candidate for working in the lab. then, you can tailor it to each individual professor/lab you email it to so that it is apparent that you researched what they do and genuinely want to work with said person instead of just spamming a bunch of people looking for any kind of job. then attach your resume.

this way, you are presenting yourself in a way that shows you understand what they do and want to contribute. being very generic means they have to look through your resume to figure out why the heck you are applying and why youd be a qualified candidate -- you dont want to give them any extra work. spell it out for them.

 

[Pragma]

for #3, you really should write more than just a brief 2-3 sentences. make up a draft email that briefly introduces yourself (where you graduated from, what degree you have, your GPA), has a couple of sentences about past relevant experience, and then closes with a sentence or 2 about how your past research experience or interest will make you a good candidate for working in the lab. then, you can tailor it to each individual professor/lab you email it to so that it is apparent that you researched what they do and genuinely want to work with said person instead of just spamming a bunch of people looking for any kind of job. then attach your resume.

this way, you are presenting yourself in a way that shows you understand what they do and want to contribute. being very generic means they have to look through your resume to figure out why the heck you are applying and why youd be a qualified candidate -- you dont want to give them any extra work. spell it out for them.

Generic is not good, but brevity is really important. If you make your email any longer than it needs to be, it can be a huge turnoff for faculty. You seem to be suggesting a brief paragraph, which i think is fine. But not more than that. Give them the option of whether they want to read through your CV.

My advisor had shown me lots of examples of annoying email inquiries from prospective students. I can't believe that some people actually think it's a good idea to type out their life story and send it directly to a faculty member, as if they have time for all of those details.

 

[AcronymAllergy]

Generic is not good, but brevity is really important. If you make your email any longer than it needs to be, it can be a huge turnoff for faculty. You seem to be suggesting a brief paragraph, which i think is fine. But not more than that. Give them the option of whether they want to read through your CV.

My advisor had shown me lots of examples of annoying email inquiries from prospective students. I can't believe that some people actually think it's a good idea to type out their life story and send it directly to a faculty member, as if they have time for all of those details.

In the hurry of writing out my earlier post, I'd somehow missed the "hiring" bit, and was thinking the OP was asking about emailing POIs about openings in their lab for an application cycle. Thus, 2-3 sentences when actually applying for a job could be a bit on the terse side. However, I agree that a short paragraph is still probably a good place to start, particularly if the email is unsolicited (i.e., not in response to an actual job posting). As always, though, that's just my take.